Despite increasing urbanisation (unfortunately horizontally expanded) as well as rural population’s influx to the cities, agricultural population in India grew by 50 percent during the last three decades after 1980.
At the time of independence, in 1947, more that 50 percent of national income as a contribution of rural manpower, 70 percent of country’s population was due to agriculture sector in India. Nowadays, when, Indian agriculture sector’s contribution to national income has declined to around 25 percent, more than 50 percent of the labour force still depends on agriculture. On the other hand the service sector, despite growing fast and contributing more than 50 percent to national income, has not come up with effective employment opportunities. Till now with growing population in India, the new entrants seek opportunities in agriculture due to establishment of national and regional centres for rural development and rural innovation funding. On the other hand the old agricultural practitioners generally express dissatisfaction and consider farming as a profession full of challenges due to ever increasing uncertainties (regarding monsoon disturbances, droughts, floods etc).
The nature of farming is worth considering at this point. Some people believe that the running intensive farming practices, utilising high quantities of chemical fertilisers and insecticides, despite being polluting to the environment are still cost efficient and so worth following. Some others think that organic farming practices, utilising natural or compost manure and natural neem leaf juice for insecticidal purpose, should be immediately followed and organic crops be selectively grown on appropriate lands. Some persons are in favour of implementation of proper land use policy with maintenance of at least 33.33 percent area of country under dense forest cover for the sake of soil conservation, the prime requirement of cost effective natural traditional farming (that means 100 percent organic farming).
Is Organic Farming a Challenge in India?
This story is from the July/August 2016 edition of Business Of Agriculture.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July/August 2016 edition of Business Of Agriculture.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Internet Of Things Based Smart Farming: A Revolution On Its Way
In this technological era of smart cities and digitalisation of livelihoods, the primitive method of farming is slowly fading away.
Covid-19 Implications For Farmers, African Agriculture And Food Security
How will Africa ensure food security for its millions of poor citizens and smallholder farmers?
Covid-19 Impact On The Livelihood Of Small And Marginal Farmers
In India, small and marginal farmers account for 86.2 percent of all farmers (Agriculture census 2015 – 2016) and produce about 60 percent of farm goods.
Climate Change And Its Impact On Indian Agriculture
Climate change is caused by a change in the total amount of energy that is kept within the Earth’s atmosphere.
SafalFasal unlocks financial access for 75,000 Indian farmers, aims to repair Coronavirus-hit supply chain
Global digital payment solutions leader BPC and its SME Marketplace, SafalFasal, have supported more than 75,000Covid-hit farmers across India by offering technological and financial solutions to help the farm sector keep food and supply chain rolling, during and after the lockdown phase. The company has successfully extended formal financing to the farming industry by creating an easy credit line via NBFCs.
SECURING FARMERS WITH TECHNOLOGY: HOW AGRITECH CAN BE A SOLUTION TO FARMERS' PRODUCE-RELATED WOES
Contributing about 15 percent to India’s GDP, the agricultural sector sustains almost half the population of the country.
ISSUES AND PRIORITIES FOR INDIAN AGRICULTURE
Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy as 60 percent of the population depends directly or indirectly on agriculture.
THE IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS ON THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR OF INDIA
As the world comes to a standstill and public life shuts down across the globe, all have their eyes on the healthcare systems which are buckled under the strain of the COVID-19 pandemic.
INDUSTRY 4.0 IN AGRICULTURE
At present, the world population is around 7.8 billion and expected to grow up to 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050 and 10.9 billion by 2100.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE OUTCOMES OF THE G-20 AGRICULTURE MINISTERS' MEETING
The international system works in a collective mechanism on certain issues wherein countries form groups to tackle an emergency or crisis.
